What are Clarity Enhanced Diamonds?

Not all natural diamonds are created equal. Natural diamonds have varying levels of inclusions and color variations.

While some diamonds are flawless, there are other diamonds that have annoying black marks or inclusions in them. These are caused by trace minerals and other conditions that influence a diamond as it grows.

Enhanced Diamonds And Clarity

Inclusions are a diamond’s worst enemy because clarity is one of the most important factors that experts take into consideration when grading diamonds. The presence of inclusions affects the transparency, integrity, structure, and overall value of the diamond.

As a result, the selling process and turnover for diamonds with inclusions tend to be slower. So, jewelry shops and sellers have to settle for a lower price point and profit margin just to keep their inventory moving.

This is why diamonds with inclusion are sometimes sent to a laboratory to undergo a special procedure to get rid of the inclusions or make them less visible to be able to increase their price a little.

These diamonds that have been treated or underwent such procedures to remove their inclusions and improve their clarity are what you call clarity enhanced diamonds. However, it must be noted that although enhanced diamonds are still real diamonds, they sell for a much lower price than a mined diamond with equivalent specifications.

Ways To Enhance The Clarity Of Diamonds

There are two ways to improve the inner or outer physical attributes of a diamond to enhance its clarity. These are fracture filling and laser drilling.

These are two different procedures but they have the same objective: to improve the clarity of a diamond by removing blemishes and inclusions to improve in a way its diamond clarity scale.

How Is the Clarity of Diamonds Enhanced?

Laser Drilling

It is a technique that uses heat and injects chemicals into the diamond to remove inclusions such as black spots of non-crystallized carbon or foreign crystals embedded into the diamond.

A laser is used to burn a microscopic hole and drill a very thin channel from the surface of the diamond to reach the inclusion. The diamond is then deep boiled to remove the dark spots and clear out the inclusion.

With the laser drilling process, very thin white lines or tunnels that do not follow the diamond’s natural growing pattern form in the diamond where the laser is drilled.

While this resulting hollow inside of the diamond is not visible and could only be seen with a microscope, it does affect the integrity of the diamond and would be considered a flaw. If a diamond had a lot of inclusions removed through laser drilling, it can definitely weaken the structure of the diamond.

Typically, the clarity can be enhanced by at least one grade when you remove the inclusions of a diamond through laser drilling. The GIA does not sanction this treatment process and will still certify diamonds that have been laser drilled, but with the presence of treatments disclosed in the report.

However, jewelry shops and sellers are expected to legally disclose the diamonds that have undergone laser drilling.

Fracture Filling

It is a procedure that involves filling the inclusion cavity with a microscopic amount of a glass-like resin made from a special formula of silicon and other compounds. The resin flows into generally clean empty cavities to fill gaps and seal cracks. The process will make the diamond’s fractures practically invisible to the human eye.

Fracture filling is best used when removing clear feather-type inclusions that are buried beneath the surface of the diamond. This is why diamonds that are selected for fracture filling are usually drilled in a specific way to open up the buried inclusion to the surface and allow the solution to reach it.

Just like laser drilling, fracture filling does not come without a disadvantage. The process of filling the fractures of the diamond affects its appearance and brilliance.

The diamond might appear flawless from the top, but the filling can disrupt the passage of light through the facets when viewed from other angles. Also, fracture-filled diamonds can become cloudy or appear hazy over time.

The GIA does not certify diamonds that underwent the process of fracture filling because this treatment process is considered to be unstable and not permanent. And just like with laser-drilled diamonds, sellers are obligated to disclose them to their customers.

A Note on Buying Clarity Enhanced Diamonds

Your engagement ring or any diamond jewelry is something you or your loved one will wear for many years. Even if clarity enhanced diamonds cost less, it is still important to spend your money wisely.

Rather than an enhanced diamond, it would be a smarter decision to go with a natural diamond from Shira Diamonds that can surely endure daily wear while maintaining its beauty and value through the years.

However, if you have an unrealistic expectation of buying a really big diamond on a small budget, getting a clarity enhanced diamond would be one way to achieve that. You may get the most carat for your cash, but you need to understand that you are likely going to overpay for an inferior quality diamond.

Where to Buy the Best Diamonds in Dallas?

You may think that buying an enhanced diamond is the best way to save money when buying diamonds. Yes, it could be a way, but it is not the best one. Clarity enhanced diamonds cost less for a reason. Untouched natural stones are still the best choice when it comes to buying diamond jewelry.

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Shira Diamonds is a go-to wholesale diamond dealer in Texas. We offer a variety of diamond cuts to cater to any client’s needs and wants.

Offering an experience like no other, we pride ourselves on our product and the work that we do. Contact us today.